[Wikipedia Daily Article] August 16: Rail transport in India

[Faraaz Damji]

   Rail transport in India is one of the most common modes of
   long-distance transport.  Rail operations are largely run by a
   state-owned company, Indian Railways.  The rail network traverses the
   length and width of the country, covering a total length of 63,140 km
   (39,233 miles).  It is one of the largest and busiest rail networks in
   the world, transporting over 5 billion passengers and over 350
   million tonnes of freight annually.  Its operations cover twenty-five
   states and three union territories and also link the neighbouring
   countries of Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.  Railways were introduced
   to India in 1853, and by the time of India's independence in 1947 they
   had grown to forty-two rail systems.  In 1951 the systems were
   nationalised as one unit—Indian Railways—to form one of the largest
   networks in the world.  Locomotives manufactured at several places in
   India are assigned codes identifying their gauge, kind of power and
   type of operation.  Colour signal lights are used as signals, but in
   some remote areas of operation, the older semaphores and discs-based
   signalling are still in use.  Accommodation classes range from general
   through first class AC.  Trains have been classified according to speed
   and area of operation.  Many trains are officially identified by a
   four-digit code, though many are commonly known by unique names also.
   The ticketing system has been computerised to a large extent, and
   there are reserved as well as unreserved categories of tickets.

Read the rest of this article:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_India


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Today's selected anniversaries:

1777:
   American Revolutionary War: The New Hampshire Militia led by John
   Stark routed British and German troops under Friedrich Baum in the
   Battle of Bennington.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bennington)

1819:
   Cavalry charged into a crowd, turning a public meeting in
   Manchester, England into the Peterloo Massacre.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterloo_Massacre)

1896:
   A group led by Skookum Jim Mason discovered gold near Dawson City,
   Yukon, Canada, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klondike_Gold_Rush)

1977:
   Elvis Presley, "The King of Rock and Roll", was found dead on the
   floor of his bathroom.  Although it was officially ruled as a fatal
   heart attack, many people have claimed to have seen Elvis alive since
   then.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley)

1987:
   Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed after takeoff in Detroit,
   Michigan, USA, killing all of the crew and passengers except one.
   (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Airlines_Flight_255)


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Wiktionary's Word of the day:

   vehemence: An intense concentration, force or power.
   (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vehemence)


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Wikiquote of the day:

   The printing press is the greatest weapon in the armoury of the modern
   commander.  -- T.  E.  Lawrence
   (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/T._E._Lawrence)